
Pediatric Psychiatry & Psychology
The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Lurie Children’s is staffed and equipped to manage the complex care of children with concurrent medical and psychiatric treatment needs. Our specialists help many young patients overcome depression, anxiety and other psychological or behavioral concerns related to their serious medical illness, as well as those children with primary mental health issues.
We believe in family-centered care. Research shows that family involvement is key to a child’s healing process. Through our family therapy sessions and parent education, you will gain support and training to more effectively care for and interact with your child. We also offer several outpatient treatment groups for children and families, as well as a program that helps older teens transition from pediatric to adult care.
Each of our mental health professionals brings dedication and specialized expertise to the individualized care that every patient receives. For hospitalized patients and those in the day program (Partial Hospitalization Program), our team members meet frequently to discuss each child’s progress and refine treatment goals and after-care planning. When appropriate, the department offers diagnostic tests such as developmental, psychological and neuropsychological.
In addition to patient care and research, we also train healthcare professionals to become mental health specialists. We are committed to helping decrease the national shortage of child and adolescent mental health providers.
The Center for Childhood Resilience works with Chicago Public Schools. Our expert staff teach a curriculum on social and emotional coping skills and help schools integrate behavioral health services into their efforts to help students, as well as training school professionals in how to address trauma in youth.
Specialists
Our multidisciplinary team includes:
- Child and adolescent psychiatrists (MD or DO)
- Child psychologists (PhD)
- Advanced practice nurses (APN)
- Psychiatric social workers (LCSW)
- Pediatric nurses
- Milieu therapists
- Recreational therapists
- Special education teachers (Inpatient and Partial Hospitalization)
The head of the department, John Walkup, MD, is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist.
Conditions We Treat
Our physicians make every attempt to stay at the forefront of treatment advances, making sure they provide our patients with the best care possible. We take specialized and evidence-based approaches to providing psychiatric and psychological services for a wide-range of conditions.
View a List of ConditionsServices
For almost 60 years, the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Lurie Children’s has provided psychiatric and psychological services to families and their children of all ages, from every social and economic background. Our services are in great demand.
Browse a list of our servicesEvaluations
Our clinicians will examine your child’s current challenges, strengths and functioning level, as well as their developmental, educational, family, medical and psychiatric history. Learn about the types of evaluations we provide below.
Appointments
If you’d like to request an appointment with one of our specialists, call 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS DOC®) or visit our Appointments page for more information.
Our Locations
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
225 E. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Lincoln Park
2515 N. Clark Street/467 W. Deming Place
Chicago, Illinois 60614-3393
Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Pediatric Outpatient Center
25 N. Winfield Road
East Entrance
Winfield, Illinois 60190
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Lake Forest
Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital Campus
900 N. Westmoreland, Suite 110 (Bays Medical Office Building, 1st Floor)*
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in New Lenox
1870 N. Silver Cross Blvd. (formerly Clinton Street)
Suite 100
New Lenox, Illinois 60451
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Westchester
Surgical Treatment Center
2301 Enterprise Drive
Westchester, Illinois 60154
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center at 1440 N. Dayton
1440 N. Dayton St.
Chicago, Illinois 60642
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Northbrook
1131 Techny Road
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
Education & Training
Learn more about our training, internship and fellowship opportunities:
Resources & Support
Visit the following helpful and physician-recommended websites to learn more about psychiatry.
Research
Our specialists conduct research that helps improve the detection and treatment of childhood mental, emotional and behavioral disorders.
Psychiatry News & Stories
Philanthropy
Your support is vital in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children's relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500.